Kate Atkinson's Life After Life [SPOILERS]

34 replies

JessicaJones · 26/12/2015 09:50

I got a Kindle for Christmas and went looking for recommendations, found Life After Life and read a sample which set up Ursula as an adult, seemingly killing Hitler and being killed herself. It all seemed interesting and good so I bought it to read. I thought it was going to be similar in plot (if not style) to Edge of Tomorrow where Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise get to live and die again and again til they get their mission right.

I've read the first few chapters and am having to read many different scenes of a young girl dying! Being the parent of 7 and 5-year-old girls I'm finding it quite hard! How many more times do I have to read about the death of a young girl before it settles into the main plot?

(It's possible I'm feeling over-sensitive in that post-Christmas kind of way )

OP posts:

Roygrace · 26/12/2015 10:43

You have just ruined my Christmas present!

mustardfrench · 26/12/2015 10:41

I'm pretty surprised that the sample you got contains such a massive spoiler!!

I liked it.

CoteDAzur · 26/12/2015 10:38

Um, do you think it's right to give a massive spoiler in your OP? I'm reporting this thread, hoping MNHQ will add "Spoiler" to the title.

LIZS · 26/12/2015 10:18

It was fine but about 2/3 in loses its way.

LetMeDriveTheBus · 26/12/2015 10:18

I found it really sad at points but loved it. I've re-read it a couple of times since as there's lots I didn't fully process at the first reading.

museumum · 26/12/2015 10:08

Each time she dies she doesn't die but starts again. The first bit it happens often but after a while she gets older and more happens in each life. It's pretty good when she's a young woman.

IamTheWhoreofBabylon · 26/12/2015 10:05

I battled through the book as I kept getting told it would improve but I didn't enjoy it at all
I just tired of her dying all the time and cared little for the characters

DoreenLethal · 26/12/2015 10:01

I could not get into this book and I love Kate Atkinson.

ErnesttheBavarian · 26/12/2015 09:58

I'm reading it. Am up to about 16%. I found the 1st 7% hard going. She does die loads of times but you don't see the aftermath iyswim. I have a 7 yr old dd and that doesn't bother me at all. I mean apart from the drowning they aren't particularly sad or tugging at the heart strings.

I am getting into the book more and it has great reviews. I'm reading it with my book club. I would have maybe given up by now otherwise but like I said, am starting to enjoy it more.

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